Vehicle battery system

ABSTRACT

A vehicle battery assembly having a battery stack that includes a plurality of modules. The plurality of modules fastened by vertical and horizontal bolts. The battery stack includes cooling plates that is configured to be flexible and non-rigid placed between the modules. The cooling plates have improved isolation of structural stresses from the battery assembly.

The present disclosure relates to various battery components of anelectric vehicle. In particular, a battery pack, its battery modules,and organizing system.

As the transition away from fossil fuels continues, the use ofall-electric and hybrid-electric motor vehicles grows ever more popular.Typically, an electric vehicle includes, a high voltage (HV) batteryassembly serving as the main power source for propulsive motors drivingthe wheels of the vehicle. The battery assembly may include a package ofbattery modules. The battery assembly may be located and configured inmany different ways depending on the vehicle platform. One configuredincludes a tunnel design in which the battery is placed under thearmrest along the length of the vehicle. Furthermore, wires of thebattery modules may require support to provide strain relief for thewires. A unique wire retention clip may be utilized in order to supportthe wires of the battery module.

The disclosed embodiments include an HV battery pack structure that fitsstandard VDA size battery modules and a wire retention clip that may beutilized for the wires of battery modules of the HV battery pack.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The features, aspects, and advantages of the present disclosure willbecome apparent from the following description, and the accompanyingexemplary embodiments shown in the drawings, which are briefly describedbelow.

FIG. 1 is a vehicle with a battery assembly located within the vehicle.

FIG. 2 is a battery assembly for the vehicle shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is the battery assembly shown in FIG. 2 with the cover removed.

FIG. 4a is a close up of the battery assembly shown in FIG. 3 with aremoved battery module.

FIG. 4b is a close up of the battery assembly shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5a is a close up of an horizontal bolt anchor.

FIG. 5b is another close up of the horizontal bolt anchor.

FIG. 5c is a side close up of the horizontal bolt anchor.

FIG. 5d is an alternate side close up of the horizontal bolt anchor.

FIG. 5e is a nut mounting tool for the horizontal bolt anchor.

FIG. 6 is a close up of the battery assembly shown in FIG. 3 with allmodules removed.

FIG. 7 is a side view of the battery assembly shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 8 is a close up of encircled portion ‘A’ shown in FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a close up of the battery assembly shown in FIG. 8 without thewire retention clip.

FIG. 10a is a bottom view of the wire retention clip.

FIG. 10b is an isometric view of the wire retention clip.

FIG. 10c is a rear view of the wire retention clip

FIG. 10d is a side view of the wire retention clip.

FIG. 11 is a close up of the battery assembly shown in FIG. 8.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

According to one disclosed, a battery assembly for a vehicle isdisclosed. The battery assembly includes a housing including a cover anda tray located under the cover, a battery stack including a plurality ofbattery modules, wherein each battery module includes a plurality ofbattery cells. The plurality of battery modules including upper levelbattery modules and lower level battery modules, wherein the lower levelbattery modules are configured to lie on the tray and the upper levelbattery modules are configured to lie on the lower level batterymodules. The battery assembly further includes at least one horizontalbolt configured to extend through at least two adjacent upper levelbattery modules and at least one vertical bolt configured to extendthrough a pillar, wherein the pillar extends from said upper levelbattery modules to said lower level battery modules and said at leastone horizontal bolt is configured to be mounted on a horizontal boltanchor, wherein the horizontal bolt anchor is attached to and extendsfrom the pillar.

According to another exemplary embodiment, a battery assembly for avehicle includes a housing including a cover and a tray located underthe cover configured to support a battery stack. The battery stackincluding a plurality of battery modules, wherein each battery moduleincludes a plurality of battery cells. The plurality of battery modulesincluding a first and second longitudinal row of modules, wherein eachrow includes an upper level and a lower level, wherein the upper levellies on top of the lower level. An upper cooling plate located betweenthe upper level of the first and second longitudinal row of modules. Alower cooling plate located between the lower level of the first andsecond longitudinal row of modules. A first and second pillar located atlongitudinal ends of the first longitudinal row of modules, where in thefirst pillar is located at the opposing end of the second pillar. Athird and fourth pillar located at longitudinal ends of the secondlongitudinal row of modules, where in the third pillar is located at theopposing end of the fourth pillar. A plurality of horizontal boltsconfigured to fasten the first longitudinal row of modules to the secondlongitudinal row of modules. A pair of vertical bolts configured tofasten the pillar onto the tray. The first pillar including a firsthorizontal bolt anchor configured to receive a first horizontal bolt ofthe plurality of horizontal bolts. The second pillar including a secondhorizontal bolt anchor configured to receive at a second horizontal boltof the plurality of horizontal bolts. The third pillar including a thirdhorizontal bolt anchor configured to receive the first horizontal boltand the fourth pillar including a fourth horizontal bolt anchorconfigured to receive at the second horizontal bolt.

FIG. 1 illustrates a vehicle 1 including a high voltage battery (insidethe vehicle) that powers propulsive motors (not visible; inside thevehicle) that drives the wheels of the vehicle.

FIG. 2 is a high voltage battery assembly 2 that includes a housing 3including cover 3 a and tray 3 b (see FIG. 3). The cover 3 a is fastenedonto tray 3 b. FIG. 3 shows the battery assembly 2 with the cover 3 aremoved. The battery assembly 2 includes a battery stack 8 including oneor more battery modules 10 disposed on top of tray 3 b. The batterystack 8 extends longitudinally across the battery assembly 2. Thebattery stack 8 includes lower level battery modules 4 and upper levelbattery modules 5 (not all battery modules 10 can be seen in FIG. 3).Each battery module 10 may include one or more battery cells (not shown,inside each module). The battery stack 8 of the battery assembly 2, asshown in FIG. 3, includes sixteen modules arranged in two rows of eightbattery modules 10 with each row of battery modules 10 having fourcolumns of two modules (upper level 4 and lower level modules 5). Thelower level battery modules 4 are located on top of an extrusion 14 oftray 3 b and support the upper level battery modules. Each batterymodule 10 may be a standard size VDA battery module. The dimensions ofthe standard size VDA battery module is set by the German Association ofthe Automotive Industry, also known as Verband der Automobilindustrie(VDA). The battery modules 10 may be oriented such that the positive andnegative sides of adjacent battery modules in a given row arealternating (see FIG. 3). Adjacent battery modules in a given row may beelectrically connected via electric connections 7 as shown throughoutthe figures in the disclosure.

FIG. 4a shows the battery stack 8 of the battery assembly 2 with asingle battery module 10 removed. The battery modules 10 are fastenedvia horizontal bolts 11 that extend through the modules 10. Thehorizontal bolts 11 may be fastened onto corresponding horizontal boltanchors 12 via a nut. The horizontal bolt 11 may extend through one ormore battery module 10 to another horizontal bolt anchors 12 at theopposing lateral side of the battery stack 8. The horizontal bolt 11 mayreceive a nut 11 b (see FIG. 5a ) at one side so that at least twobattery modules 10 may be coupled and fastened together in the lateraldirection.

For example, FIG. 4b shows two rows of battery modules 10 such that apair of battery modules 10 a and 10 b are fastened and coupled togethervia horizontal bolts 11. The horizontal bolts 11 may be positioned atthe top and bottom of each battery module 10, however horizontal bolts11 may be placed and fastened at other locations along the height of thebattery module. The horizontal bolt anchors 12 may include one or moreopenings configured to receive horizontal bolts 11. The horizontal boltanchors 12 located at the corners of the assembly may include only oneopening. For example horizontal bolt anchor 12 a includes a singleopening, and is positioned at the outside corners of the assembly 2where there are no module to module connection required located at thelongitudinal end 2 b of the battery stack 8. Horizontal bolt anchor 12 dmay be placed between upper and lower level modules at the longitudinalend 2 b of the battery stack 8. The bolt anchors 12 located betweenmodules 10 are configured such that one end of the bolt anchor 12 isutilized for a different battery module 10 than the module located atthe other end of the bolt anchor 12. For example, bolt anchor 12 banchors battery module 10 c and battery module 10 a. A similar boltanchor 12 b anchors battery module 10 c to 10 e. Bolt anchors 12 mayalso include a center bolt anchor 12 c which includes four openings toaccommodate four different battery modules 10. Though only the batterymodules 10 at longitudinal end 2 b of the battery stack 8 are shown, theconfiguration is similarly configured for the rest of the batterymodules 10 of the battery stack 8. Each longitudinally adjacent batterymodules 10 will be configured to have one or more horizontal boltanchors 12 and corresponding horizontal bolts similarly shown in FIG. 4aand FIG. 4 b.

Vertical bolts 13 may also be utilized to couple and fasten the batterymodules 10 vertically. The vertical bolts 13 extend through theextrusion 14 and into channels 15 where nuts or rivet nuts (not shown)may be inserted into channels 15 of the extrusion 14 and wherein the nutis configured fasten to the vertical bolts 13. A nut insertion tool maybe utilized in order to insert the nut into channel 15 and tightened tovertical bolts 13. The extrusion 14 is disposed above tray 3 b. Thelength of the vertical bolts 13 may extends to and ends at the channels15 of the extrusion 14 and does not extend through the tray 3 b. Thisconfiguration reduces vulnerabilities of the battery assembly 2 to wateringress and other hazards by eliminating the need to provide holes forfasteners on the external part (e.g. tray 3 b) of the battery assembly2. The vertical bolts 13 may only be disposed at the ends of the batterystack 8. The vertical bolts 13 are inserted through vertical boltanchors 16 located at the ends of upper battery modules 10 a and 10 b.The vertical bolt anchors 16 rests above pillars 17. The vertical boltanchors 16 may be configured as a flat plate including one or more holesconfigured to receive vertical bolts 13. The vertical bolt 13 extendthrough pillars 17 to the channels 15 of the extrusion 14. The pillars17 are also coupled to the horizontal bolt anchors 12 at the batterymodules 10 at the longitudinal end 2 b of the battery stack 8. Thehorizontal bolt anchors 12 d/12 a at the end of the pillars may befastened or integrated to the pillar 17. The pillar 17 and the verticalbolt anchors 16 may have approximately the same cross sectional shapeand size such that the perimeter of the vertical bolt anchors overlaythe perimeter of the pillar. The pillars 17 may extend from top ofmodule 10 a to the bottom of module 10 d (i.e. to the extrusion 14).This fastening configuration aids in the structural rigidity of thebattery stack 8. While only one longitudinal end 2 b of the batterystack 8 is shown, the other opposite longitudinal end 2 a of the batterystack may include the same configuration.

In FIG. 4a , the battery stack 8 further includes cooling plates 20,thermal interface materials 21, pads 22, and strips 23. The coolingplates 20 extends longitudinally across the battery stack 8 from onelongitudinal end 2 b to the other longitudinal end 2 a. The coolingplates 20 are configured to dissipate heat from the battery modules 10.The upper level battery modules and lower level modules may eachcomprise a corresponding cooling plate 20. The cooling plate 20 is notrigidly fixed to the battery modules 10 of the battery assembly 2 or thebattery stack 8. This arrangement prevents structural stresses frombeing transmitted to the cooling plate 20, thus improving the life anddurability of the cooling plate 20.

FIG. 5a shows one side of the battery stack 8 where the horizontal boltend 11 a is inserted through the bolt anchor 12 b. A square nut 11 b maybe placed in a slot 50 of the bolt anchor 12. The square nut 11 b isinserted into the slot 50 prior to the installation of the horizontalbolt 11. FIG. 5a shows the bolt anchor 12 e as seen in FIG. 4b . Boltanchor 12 e is located on the opposite side of the battery stack to boltanchor 12 b. Bolt anchor 12 e includes a flat surface 51 configured toengage bolt head 11 c. The bolt end 11 a of horizontal bolt 11 isconfigured to be enter through bolt anchor 12 e first and exit throughbolt anchor 12 b as shown in FIGS. 5a and 5b . The horizontal bolt 11may then be tightened to the bolt anchor 12 e to engage bolt anchorsurface 51 and screwed through the square nut 11 b. Although only topanchors 12 b and 12 e are shown, similar configurations of the boltanchors 12 may be provided for the battery stack 8. For example, in FIG.4b , each bolt anchor 12 b/12 c/12 a may include a slot 50 configured toreceive corresponding bolt ends 11 a and corresponding square nuts 11 b.Although a square shape nut 11 b and slot 50 are shown, any shaped nutor slot be utilized.

FIGS. 5c and 5d each show an alternative view the bolt anchor 12. Eachbolt anchor 12 includes a flange portion 61 and a body 62. First gaps70/71 are located between first surfaces 63 of the flange portion 61 andfirst surfaces 64 of the corresponding closest adjacent battery module10. Second gaps 72/73 are located between first surfaces 65 of the body62 and second surfaces 66 of the corresponding closest adjacent batterymodule 10. The bolt anchors 12 are designed such that the second gaps72/73 are smaller than the first gaps 70/71 on the same correspondingside (i.e. gap 70 is smaller than gap 72 and gap 71 is smaller gap 73).This configuration protects the battery modules 10 from unwanted contactat the first surfaces 64 which may electrically damage the batterycells. In a situation where the horizontal bolts 11 are loose, the body62 will contact second surfaces 66 and the the flange portions 61 areprevented from touching the first surfaces 64.

FIG. 5e shows a nut assembly or mounting tool 80 for the battery stack8. The tool 80 eliminates the need for a second operator to be involvedin the installation of the horizontal bolts 11. Mounting tool 80 isconfigured to attach to the anchors 12 at the bolt end side. Themounting tool 80 is configured to hold corresponding square nuts 11 b atnut slots 81. The location of the nut slots 81 corresponds to thelocation of slots 50 of the bolt anchors 12 where nut 11 b is configuredto be placed inside. As the horizontal bolts 11 are inserted andtightened from the bolt anchors 12 of the opposite side (i.e. bolt heatside), the bolts 11 will catch corresponding nuts 11 b and carry thebolts into the corresponding slots 50 of the horizontal bolt anchors 12via the threads of the bolt 11. The shape of the nut assembly tool 80may conform to the shape of the bolt anchors so that the nuts 11 b maybe transferred smoothly from the slots 81 of the assembly tool 80 to theslots 50 of the bolt anchors 12 (i.e., no gap exists between the tool 80and the corresponding anchors 12).

FIG. 6 shows the battery stack 8 without the battery modules 10.Horizontal fasteners 11 and vertical fasteners 13 are also omitted. Thebattery stack 8 further includes a bottom supporting plate 24, anintermediate supporting plate 25, and a top supporting plate 26. The topsupporting plate 26 may also be seen in FIG. 4a and FIG. 4b and theintermediate supporting plate 25 may also be seen in FIG. 4a .Supporting plates 24/25/26 run parallel with the cooling plates 20.Strips 23 run along the length of the supporting plates 24/25/26 and areplaced between the cooling plates 20 and corresponding adjacentsupporting plates 24/25/26. The supporting plates 24/25/26 areconfigured to receive and support the horizontal bolts 11. Thesupporting plates 24/25/26 are located between the rows of batterymodules 10, wherein the rows are the set of upper and lower batterymodules arranged longitudinally along the battery stack 8.

Cooling plates 20 may include heat sink pipes 20 a configured to receiveand carry a cooling medium. Segments of thermal interface material 21may be applied onto both sides the cooling plate 20 facing the batterymodules 10. The thermal interface material 21 is configured to enhancethermal coupling of the cooling plate 20 and the battery modules 10 inorder to quickly dissipate heat away from the battery modules 10 to thecooling medium. The strips 23 are placed between corresponding adjacentsupporting plates 24/25/26 and cooling plates 20. The strips 23 may bemade of foam, and configured to support the cooling plates 20 in thevertical direction. The pad 22 is placed between rails 20 b and 20 c ofthe cooling plates 20 and configured to engage the pillars 17 and heatsink pipe 20 a of the cooling plate 20 such that the pad 22 prevents thecooling plate 20 from moving in the longitudinal direction along thebattery stack 8 (see FIG. 4b and FIG. 6). Although not shown, theconfiguration of pad 22 may also be applied to the other longitudinalend 2 a of the battery stack 8. The pad 22 may also comprise foammaterial of suitable thickness and resiliency. In the configurationdescribed above, the cooling plates 20 are not screwed or bolted ontothe battery stack 8. As a result, the cooling plates 20 are relieved ofstructural stresses thus improving the life cycle of the plates.

As shown in FIG. 7 the battery stack 8 may also include one or morewires 40 configured to connect to each battery module 10. Each batterymodule 10 includes a first connector 41 and a second connector 42. Eachconnector is configured to receive and send data from the battery ECUand other electronic devices in the battery assembly 2 to each batterymodule 10. The wires 40 may be required to be connected to a singleside. For example, the wires 40 may be required to be connected to theconnector 41 at the negative side of the battery module 10. To preventinsertion of the wires to the wrong connectors, a wire retention clip 43is provided to organize and support the wires 40. The wire may also beconnected to the connector 42 at the positive side of the battery module10 if required. As shown in FIG. 8 the wire retention clip 43 isconfigured to be clipped onto the modules 10 of battery assembly 2. FIG.9 shows a close up of the battery assembly 2 between two battery modules10 without the wire retention clip 43. The battery modules 10 mayinclude first clip hole 44 and second clip hole 45, wherein both firstand second clip holes 44/45 extends laterally at the ends of batterymodules 10. The first and second clip hole 44/45 of each module isconfigured to receive legs of the wire retention clip 43. Each batterymodule 10 may also include a third clip hole 46 configured to receive anotch 50 (see FIG. 10a-10d ) of the wire retention clip 43. The thirdclip hole 46 is located at an end face of the longitudinal end of eachbattery module 10. The first, second, and third holes 44, 45, and 46 areconfigured to receive the retention clip 43. Although only shown in oneside the third hole 46 is configured to be located on both sides of eachbattery module 10, allowing the wire clip 43 to be attached to twocorresponding adjacent battery modules 10.

FIG. 10a-10d shows different views of wire retention clip 43. Wireretention clip 43 may include a first pair of legs 47, a second pair oflegs 48, and a third pair of legs 49 each extending from the clip mainbody 54. The first pair of legs 47 are shaped to be inserted to firstclip holes 44 of the battery module and the second pair of legs 48 areshaped to be inserted into second clip holes 48 of the battery module.The third pair of legs 49 includes notches 50 configured to be insertedinto the third clip hole 46 in respective battery modules 10. The ofnotches 50 and the third clip hole 46 may be any shape as long as theshape of notch 50 matches the shape of third clip hole 46. The third leg49 is configured to be inserted into a space between battery modules.The first and second legs 47/48 hold the wire retention clip between themodules 10 via the first and second clip hole 44/45 respectively. Thenotch 50 is configured to clip and be inserted into the third clip hole46. The notch 50 is configured to hold the wire retention clip 43 frombeing moved or pulled out of the battery modules 10. The first legs 47,second legs 48, first clip holes 44, second clip holes 45 are to beshaped such that only the first legs 47 may only be inserted into thefirst holes 44, and the second legs 48 may only be inserted to thesecond holes 45 of the battery module 10. This prevents the wireretention clip 43 from being inserted wrongly (e.g. upside-down). Wireholes 51 and 52 of the wire retention clip 43 are configured to hold thewire 40 for each corresponding battery module 10. Each wire hole 51/52may include teeth 53 configured to allow the wire to pass in onedirection while preventing the wire from exiting if pulled in the otherand opposite direction. A tab 55 may also be extending from the clipmain body 54. The tab 55 functions as a handle in order to aid in theinsertion of the clip 43 between battery modules 10. Tab 55 also acts asa separator for the wire holes 51 and 52 so that the wires may be guidedto the correct and intended module 10 for the wire. For example as shownin FIG. 11, if wire 40 is intended for connector 41, then the wire 40will be inserted into wire hole 51. Likewise, if wire 40 is intended forconnector 42 then the wire 40 will be inserted to inserted to wire hole52. The position of the wire holes 51/52 relative to the tab 55 willbias the wire towards either the left or right battery module 10.

As utilized herein, the terms “approximately,” “about,” “substantially”,and similar terms are intended to have a broad meaning in harmony withthe common and accepted usage by those of ordinary skill in the art towhich the subject matter of this disclosure pertains. It should beunderstood by those of skill in the art who review this disclosure thatthese terms are intended to allow a description of certain featuresdescribed and claimed without restricting the scope of these features tothe precise numerical ranges provided. Accordingly, these terms shouldbe interpreted as indicating that insubstantial or inconsequentialmodifications or alterations of the subject matter described and claimedare considered to be within the scope of the disclosure as recited inthe appended claims.

It should be noted that the term “exemplary” as used herein to describevarious embodiments is intended to indicate that such embodiments arepossible examples, representations, and/or illustrations of possibleembodiments (and such term is not intended to connote that suchembodiments are necessarily extraordinary or superlative examples).

The terms “coupled,” “connected,” and the like as used herein mean thejoining of two members directly or indirectly to one another. Suchjoining may be stationary (e.g., permanent) or moveable (e.g., removableor releasable). Such joining may be achieved with the two members or thetwo members and any additional intermediate members being integrallyformed as a single unitary body with one another or with the two membersor the two members and any additional intermediate members beingattached to one another.

References herein to the positions of elements (e.g., “top,” “bottom,”“above,” “below,” etc.) are merely used to describe the orientation ofvarious elements in the FIGURES. It should be noted that the orientationof various elements may differ according to other exemplary embodiments,and that such variations are intended to be encompassed by the presentdisclosure.

It is important to note that the construction and arrangement of thebattery assembly as shown in the various exemplary embodiments isillustrative only. Although only a few embodiments have been describedin detail in this disclosure, those skilled in the art who review thisdisclosure will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible(e.g., variations in sizes, dimensions, structures, shapes andproportions of the various elements, values of parameters, mountingarrangements, use of materials, colors, orientations, etc.) withoutmaterially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of thesubject matter described herein. For example, elements shown asintegrally formed may be constructed of multiple parts or elements, theposition of elements may be reversed or otherwise varied, and the natureor number of discrete elements or positions may be altered or varied.The order or sequence of any process or method steps may be varied orre-sequenced according to alternative embodiments. Other substitutions,modifications, changes and omissions may also be made in the design,operating conditions and arrangement of the various exemplaryembodiments without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

1. A battery assembly for a vehicle, the battery assembly comprising: abattery stack including a plurality of battery modules, wherein eachbattery module includes a plurality of battery cells; the plurality ofbattery modules including upper level battery modules and lower levelbattery modules, and the upper level battery modules are configured tolie on the lower level battery modules; a first cooling platelongitudinally extending from one end of the battery stack to anopposing end of the battery stack; wherein the first cooling plate islocated between adjacent rows of the upper and lower level batterymodules; and an electrical connector attached to adjacent batterymodules located in the lower level.
 2. The battery assembly of claim 1,further comprising a housing including a cover and a tray located underthe cover, wherein the lower level battery modules are configured to lieon the tray; at least one horizontal bolt configured to extend throughat least two adjacent upper level battery modules; at least one verticalbolt configured to extend through a pillar, wherein the pillar extendsfrom said upper level battery modules to said lower level batterymodules; wherein said at least one horizontal bolt is configured to bemounted on a horizontal bolt anchor, wherein the horizontal bolt anchoris attached to and extends from the pillar.
 3. The battery assembly ofclaim 2, further comprising a second cooling plate longitudinallyextending from the one end of the battery stack to the opposing end ofthe battery stack; and wherein the second cooling plate is placedbetween adjacent rows of the lower level battery modules.
 4. The batteryassembly of claim 3, wherein the first cooling plate includes a firstand second rails; and a first pad located between the first and secondrails, wherein the first pad is configured to engage the pillar toprevent the cooling plate from moving in the longitudinal direction. 5.The battery assembly of claim 4, further comprising a first supportplate extending parallel with the first rail of the first cooling plate;said first support plate configured to receive a first bolt of the atleast one horizontal bolt; and a first foam strip extending along thefirst rail and a second foam strip extending along the second rail,wherein the first and second foam strip is configured to support thefirst cooling plate in the vertical direction.
 6. The battery assemblyof claim 5, wherein the second cooling plate includes a third and fourthrails; and a second pad located between the first and second rails,wherein the second pad is configured to engage the pillar to prevent thesecond cooling plate from moving in the longitudinal direction.
 7. Thebattery assembly of claim 6, further comprising a second support plateextending parallel with the fourth rail of the first cooling plate; anintermediate support plate extending parallel with the second rail ofthe first cooling plate and the third rail of second cooling plate; athird foam strip extending along the third rail and a fourth foam stripextending along the fourth rail, wherein the third and fourth foam stripis configured to support the second cooling plate in the verticaldirection.
 8. The battery assembly of claim 7, wherein the first supportplate, second support plate, intermediate support plate, first rail,second rail, third rail, fourth rail, the first foam strip, and secondfoam strip is located on the same plane.
 9. The battery assembly ofclaim 2, wherein the pillar is a first pillar and the horizontal boltanchor is a first horizontal bolt anchor; a second pillar extendingparallel to the first pillar; a second horizontal bolt anchor attachedto and extending from the second pillar; wherein the second horizontalbolt anchor is configured to receive the at least one horizontal bolt.10. A electric vehicle comprising: propulsive motors; a battery assemblyconfigured to power the propulsive motors; said battery assembly havinga housing including a cover and a tray located under the cover; abattery stack located within the housing, wherein the battery stackincludes a plurality of battery modules, wherein each battery moduleincludes a plurality of battery cells; the plurality of battery modulesincluding upper level battery modules and lower level battery modules,wherein the lower level battery modules are configured to lie on thetray and the upper level battery modules are configured to lie on thelower level battery modules; at least one horizontal bolt configured toextend through at least two adjacent upper level battery modules; atleast one vertical bolt configured to extend through a pillar, whereinthe pillar extends from said upper level battery modules to said lowerlevel battery modules; and said at least one horizontal bolt isconfigured to be mounted on a horizontal bolt anchor, wherein thehorizontal bolt anchor is attached to and extends from the pillar. 11.The vehicle of claim 10, further comprising a first cooling platelongitudinally extending from one end of the battery stack to anopposing end of the battery stack; and wherein the first cooling plateis placed between adjacent rows of the upper level battery modules. 12.The vehicle of claim 11, further comprising a second cooling platelongitudinally extending from the one end of the battery stack to theopposing end of the battery stack; and wherein the second cooling plateis placed between adjacent rows of the lower level battery modules. 13.The vehicle of claim 12, wherein the first cooling plate includes afirst and second rails; and a first pad located between the first andsecond rails, wherein the first pad is configured to engage the pillarto prevent the cooling plate from moving in the longitudinal direction.14. The vehicle of claim 13, further comprising a first support plateextending parallel with the first rail of the first cooling plate; saidfirst support plate configured to receive a first bolt of the at leastone horizontal bolt; and a first foam strip extending along the firstrail and a second foam strip extending along the second rail, whereinthe first and second foam strip is configured to support the firstcooling plate in the vertical direction.
 15. The vehicle of claim 14,wherein the second cooling plate includes a third and fourth rails; anda second pad located between the first and second rails, wherein thesecond pad is configured to engage the pillar to prevent the secondcooling plate from moving in the longitudinal direction.
 16. The vehicleof claim 15, further comprising a second support plate extendingparallel with the fourth rail of the first cooling plate; anintermediate support plate extending parallel with the second rail ofthe first cooling plate and the third rail of second cooling plate; athird foam strip extending along the third rail and a fourth foam stripextending along the fourth rail, wherein the third and fourth foam stripis configured to support the second cooling plate in the verticaldirection.
 17. The vehicle of claim 16, wherein the first support plate,second support plate, intermediate support plate, first rail, secondrail, third rail, fourth rail, the first foam strip, and second foamstrip is located on the same plane.
 18. A battery assembly for avehicle, the battery assembly comprising: a housing including a coverand a tray located under the cover configured to support a batterystack; the battery stack including a plurality of battery modules,wherein each battery module includes a plurality of battery cells; theplurality of battery modules including a first and second longitudinalrow of modules, wherein each row includes an upper level and a lowerlevel; wherein the upper level lies on top of the lower level; an uppercooling plate located between the upper level of the first and secondlongitudinal row of modules; a lower cooling plate located between thelower level of the first and second longitudinal row of modules; a firstand second pillar located at longitudinal ends of the first longitudinalrow of modules, where in the first pillar is located at the opposing endof the second pillar; a third and fourth pillar located at longitudinalends of the second longitudinal row of modules, where in the thirdpillar is located at the opposing end of the fourth pillar; a pluralityof horizontal bolts configured to fasten the first longitudinal row ofmodules to the second longitudinal row of modules; a pair of verticalbolts configured to fasten the pillar onto the tray; the first pillarincluding a first horizontal bolt anchor configured to receive a firsthorizontal bolt of the plurality of horizontal bolts; the second pillarincluding a second horizontal bolt anchor configured to receive at asecond horizontal bolt of the plurality of horizontal bolts; the thirdpillar including a third horizontal bolt anchor configured to receivethe first horizontal bolt; and the fourth pillar including a fourthhorizontal bolt anchor configured to receive at the second horizontalbolt.
 19. The battery assembly of claim 18, further comprising a firstplurality of internal horizontal bolt anchors located between batterymodules of the first longitudinal row at the upper level and betweenbattery modules of first longitudinal row at the lower level; a secondplurality of internal horizontal bolt anchors located between batterymodules of the second longitudinal row at the upper level and betweenbattery modules of second longitudinal row at the lower level; and aplurality of internal horizontal bolts configured to be inserted throughthe first plurality of internal horizontal bolt anchors and extendthrough corresponding modules of the first and second row of modules tothe second plurality of internal horizontal bolt anchors; and furthercomprising a plurality of center horizontal bolt anchors, wherein eachcenter horizontal bolt anchor includes four attachment points; eachattachment point configured to be attached to a corresponding corner ofthe battery modules in the first and second longitudinal row. 20.(canceled)
 21. The battery assembly of claim 1, wherein at least twoadjacent modules located in the upper level contain a through openinglocated at one end of each of the at least two adjacent modules.
 22. Thebattery assembly of claim 21, further comprising a bolt extendingthrough each of the through openings located in the at least twoadjacent modules.